2,300 SIGN PETITION

>b Mayor Sam Granato would like to save the city of Bainbridge Island what he thinks are unnecessary election costs.

By Jim Rothgeb Sun Staff

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- A frustrated Mayor Sam Granato says he has tried to no avail to arrange a meeting with deannexation forces on Bainbridge Island.

Now it appears the city will take the next step, albeit a baby one, to put the issue on an upcoming election ballot.

"I tried through a third party to have a meeting with the de-annexation people but there was no response," said Granato. "Now we'll have to present their petition to the City Council for certification."

Granato wants the Citizens for Bainbridge Island to reconsider their drive to reduce the city to its old boundaries around Winslow. The group tallied more than 2,300 signatures on a petition last summer asking the city to have one election to decide the matter. In the fall of 1990, two elections -- one in Winslow and one in then-unincorporated Bainbridge -- narrowly granted approval to all-island government.

A de-annexation election would require 60 percent approval for the city to revert to its old boundaries.

"(Citizens for Bainbridge Island) sent us a letter of admission that they will not win a de-annexation election," said Granato. "All I want is to save the city some election costs."

County officials say such an election could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on what other issues are on the same ballot and what jurisdictions are sharing the costs.

In a letter, dated Jan. 2, Citizens for Bainbridge Island's officers said: "... while not at all confident that we will achieve the required number of votes to prevail (we) do believe, as petitioners, we have met the test to have a vote on this issue ..."

When asked this week if he honestly thinks de-annexation would not pass, the group's chairman, Ethan Skyler, said: "We won't know that until we try it. Voter apathy on the island is pretty strong but the power here comes from the petitioners."

Granato says he also has problems with some of the names appearing on those petitions. Namely his own.

Someone printed Granato's name, an address, and telephone number but did not sign the petition. That name, according to Kitsap County Auditor Karen Flynn, was certified by her office.

"Anyone who knows me knows that I did not put my name on that petition," insists Granato, who has worked hard the last 11 months to make all-island government work. "I have to think that if one name is incorrect, that leaves in question all of the names."

Flynn said the petition was approved by her office but certification of Granato's name was a case of human error. She added however, that since only about 1,400 names were needed to verify the petition, the mistaken inclusion of Granato on the list should not stand in the way of county certification. More than 1,900 names on the petition were checked, said Flynn.

Granato said the City Council probably also will certify the petition during its regular meeting tonight. While the city is reluctant, he sees no reason to hold up the process that soon will include the Kitsap County Boundary Review Board.

"We would rather make our case to the boundary review board," said Granato. He also believes the next move after tonight belongs to petition proponents, who should file their intention with the review board.

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